Neglect of rail network in mid-Himalayas resented

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, December 24

Blaming the Central government for neglecting the mid-Himalayan region of the state in spreading the rail network, volunteers of the Tanakpur –Bageshwar Rail Nirman Sangharsh Samiti today demonstrated at Tanakpur, demanding the construction of rail lines.

“We have stated in the memo sent to the PM, Railways Minister and members of the Railway Board, that having incorporated the regions of Himachal, J&K and recently, north-eastern region under railways network, the Union Government is neglecting the mid-Himalayan region,” said samiti president Ganga Giri Goswami.

Members of the samiti said due to neglect of this region from railways network, neither was there economic progress nor was tourism growing at an appropriate pace here. “Due to lack of these economic boosts, migration has been occurring in this region, more so from the border villages. The Railway Ministry is to blame too,” said Goswami.

The samiti has demanded construction of meter-gauge railway line between Tanakpur and Bageshwar, Rishikesh and Karnprayag, Ramnagar and Kotdwar, Hardwar and Haldwani as also Tanakpur-Kiccha-Bareilly soon. “We are sending memorandums to the ministries concerned and requesting the Prime Minister to fulfil the region’s demand,” said Goswami.